HC Deb 27 March 1939 vol 345 cc1681-2
1. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether he can now give the House any further information respecting the scope and nature of the recent conversations between the Viceroy and Mr. Gandhi; what decisions were reached; and whether further discussions either with him or with Congress leaders are likely to take place in the near future?

The Under-Secretary of State for India (Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead)

I have nothing to add regarding the character of the conversations to the reply which I gave to a question by the hon. Member on 20th March. I understand that no further discussions are at the moment in view.

Mr. Sorensen

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that his previous reply to me contained no information regarding the particulars of that discussion, and in view of that fact, could we have, at an early date, some indication of the nature of the discussion and what has transpired since then?

Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead

I do not think I could promise the hon. Member any further details than those he has already had. My previous reply on 20th March was that discussions, which were of a friendly character, took place on various points arising out of the recent dispute regarding events in Rajkot State, and I gave the hon. Member a very long statement previously on the circumstances of that dispute. I think perhaps those two answers, taken together, indicate the scope of the discussions.

Mr. Sorensen

While I thank the hon. and gallant Gentleman for his reply, may I ask whether he will answer the last part of my question, regarding possible discussions with the Congress leaders or with His Majesty's Government?

Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead

I understand that no further discussions are at the moment in view. That refers both to Mr. Gandhi and the Congress leaders.